Welcome back! Interesting Fr John doesn't give his full name. There seems to be quite a few "Fathers" commenting on blogs like yours who are not, in fact, priests at all. I wonder if he's one of them. Don't suppose we'll ever know. Happy Easter!

Dammit Laurence.....now he's on to me (http://linenonthehedgerow.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/what-is-wrong-with-this-altar.html?) And, no this is not a cheap shot at getting a spike in my stats. Happy Easter to you!

He's a disgrace to Catholicism, and to the holy priesthood - if he was ordained to Holy Orders. I hope he is not a priest for he would be scandalising many and leading people away from The Truth. Do not publish comments made in bad faith, inspired by the demonic. I notice that the person who writes at Catholic Commentary has written another disgusting slur against the writings and character of Deacon Nick Donnelly. (I only noticed this because his blog is listed on Fr Blake's.) A person with such a personal animus against the truth, in Faith, morals and fact, has a soul damaged by evil. Say a prayer for the freedom of all souls oppressed or otherwise tormented by evil.

Dear Mr. Bones,I was surprised that you did not post my comment which wished you a happy Eastertide and expressed my appreciation for your blog and how relieved I was that you were "back", praying that you were not sick. I also said I would not give anymore attention to this "Fr. John" but that you were a better soul than I in this regard. All this to wonder why you did not post my comments? Of course, I don't want this one posted. I am just an old discarded nobody, a 67 yr. old woman, abandoned by husband and two grown children (one named Matthew). So it is "par for the course" (as we say in the U.S.) that once again I am treated like a nobody whose comment of encouragement is considered worthless. Ah well. Say a prayer for me if you're not too busy for a Hail Mary. I suffer much and poorly. Again, I'm very thankful for your blog. In Corde Jesu, Jeb

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I expect that Benedict XVI reigned as Pope for a great deal longer than his official tenure from 2005 - 2013 would suggest. Back in the day when the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was seen as really very important indeed (has anybody heard anything from Archbishop Ladaria recently or has he gone on an extended holiday?) the then Cardinal Ratzinger was Pope John Paul II's right-hand man and right-hand men are significant. As John Paul II's illness deepened in the 1990s and his ability to govern effectively became limited, I expect that the competences Joseph Ratzinger took on became more papal. Perhaps his experiences under John Paul II even gave the then Cardinal Ratzinger his novel and hugely problematic idea of a bifurcated papacy with an active and contemplative ministry.

St John Paul II still today has his critics in traditional circles, Koran-kissing, Assisi gathering Popes do somewhat give the impression of a tarnished papacy, but at no stage in either Bened…

PLEASE NOTE:THE POPE FRANCIS LITTLE BOOK OF INSULTS CAN NOW BE READ AT ITS OWN WEBSITE:

THE POPE FRANCIS LITTLE BOOK OF INSULTS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^THE FULL, UPDATED POPE FRANCIS LITTLE BOOK OF INSULTS IS NOW AT A NEW WEBSITE HERE _________________________________________________________________________"Old maid!"

All of this is profoundly and wildly speculative, of course, but I suppose that option c) for Pope Francis in the event of some kind of process that resulted in a trial to ascertain his ability to hold Office would be simply to declare that he does not recognise the authority of those who place him on trial followed by some kind of excommunication for those who tried to do so. Meanwhile, Fr Antonio Spadaro and Fr James Martin S.J could tweet about how this was like the arrest and trial of Our Lord Jesus Christ. One can just see the narrative unfolding. 'The Trial of Pope Francis'. That would make for an interesting play at the National Theatre. If not answering the dubia is seen by Francis as his way of showing respect for due process, perhaps he wouldn't even turn up for his own trial. The imagination runs riot. Perhaps I really should give it up for Lent.

I suppose that with the general upending of justice and law that is a motif of this papacy, the trial of Cardinal Bu…